Tests show Threads' new search function blocks words like “sex”, “gore”, and “vaccines”; Meta admits “covid” is a blocked term but declines to disclose others
https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... Bluesky: Jessica Harvey / @jessiscah23.bsky.social : never seen a social media platform try so hard not to be fun [embedded post] @chathamharrison.bsky.social : From a “avoiding controversy on our app” perspective this kind of cowardly both-sides nonsense is plainly in Meta's interest. Meta isn't here to build a vibrant public square & they're better off not pretending [embedded post] Ian Boudreau / @iboudreau.bsky.social : It really is a social media platform that's just for the commercials [embedded post] @darthbluesky.bsky.social : wat [embedded post] X: Adam Mosseri / @mosseri : @TaylorLorenz ... I hear you, and we're working to support more searches quickly. We're trying to learn from last mistakes and believe it's better to bias towards being careful as we roll out search. Nu Wexler / @wexler : Pinterest blocked search results related to vaccines in 2018, and got credit for addressing health misinfo. IG has also restricted certain problematic search terms in the past. The lesson here may be to lean into the change with a public announcement. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... Nu Wexler / @wexler : Search was always going to dial up the volume on Threads — it allows culture warriors to find their enemies and helps reporters find controversial content. But it's a necessary tool and allows normie users to find content they like. Steven Sinofsky / @stevesi : i'm confused. old enough to remember when the goal was to prevent people from finding [certain] posts on covid AND the networks should not be in the position to determine what we read. this harkens back to the appointment of the minister of misinformation. haven't we learned? [image] @taylorlorenz : @digiphile ... I also totally disagree about whitelisting accounts. I don't think Meta is in a position to judge scientific info in real time. What they should do, is simply ban bad actors and build features in like Twitter's community notes, which can fact check in real time @taylorlorenz : @digiphile ... Either way, wholesale blocking searches to things like long covid is extremely irresponsible imo. @taylorlorenz : @digiphile ... the govt is not a trustworthy source on many things!! That's why it's crucial not to censor searches or link to generic govt websites which contain out of date or factually wrong info. We need scientists, experts, doctors and journalists to be able to disseminate reliable info Alex Howard / @digiphile : Please invest in public health, @finkd & @mosseri: instead of @meta creating an info void to fester, convert public interest into public knowledge with search results that link to https://coronavirus.gov/ & https://vaccines.gov/ + a whitelist of trustworthy verified accounts. [image] @taylorlorenz : Instagram/Threads wholesale blocking searches for Covid, vaccines, and long covid, especially in the midst of another surge, is so incredibly dangerous and harmful. This type of blunt moderation endangers people's lives, public health experts told me https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... Charlos / @loscharlos : “When users went to Threads to search for content related to ‘covid’ and ‘#LongCovid’, they were met with a blank screen that showed no search results” “A Meta spokesperson acknowledged that Threads was intentionally blocking the search terms” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... Forums: r/technology : Threads blocks searches related to covid and vaccines as cases rise | Public health experts denounced the platform's moderation policies … Beehaw : Threads blocks searches related to covid and vaccines as cases rise See also Mediagazer